Review of LS2’s flip-over polycarbonate modular helmet.

If you’ve ever checked out the Shark Evoline or Shark Evo-one 2 modular helmets, you might find there’s more than a passing resemblance with the LS2 Valiant.

Not only is the design pretty similar, but the Valiant is also a dual-homologated flip-up helmet too – where the chin bar rotates right to the back of the helmet to give more of a proper open faced helmet feeling.

And like the two Sharks, the Valiant has a thermoplastic shell – LS2 calls it a Kinetic Polymer Alloy but don’t be confused – it’s still a polycarbonate shelled helmet.

LS2 Valiant Avant – works well as a full face as well as open face helmet

The Valiant is designed for regular road riders and commuters – so track riders should look elsewhere (like in our sportsbike helmets section).

It took Shark a few goes to make their helmets really work – so we find out if LS2 have got it right first time by discovering what owners think of their Valiants. And we uncover what features you can expect if you decide to buy one.

Looking to buy this LS2 helmet?

Please click below to visit the LS2 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

Safety

To cut to the chase, we’d expect the LS2 Valiant to give reasonable protection in an accident.

Looking at SHARP test data, their average score for a tested LS2 polycarbonate helmet is 3 stars out of 5. Which is pretty OK.

There’s only been one LS2 modular helmet tested by SHARP in recent years though. That’s the LS2 Strobe and that scored 3 stars for safety plus a 100% score for number of times the chin bar stayed locked during testing; which is obviously an excellent score.

Rear view of the LS2 Valiant in chrome with chin bar closed

The Valiant is both DOT (US) and ECE 22-05 (EU) certified so it’s passed the thorough ECE testing regime, which is good to know. It’s also been both P & J certified meaning that it’s been approved to work as both a full face and open face helmet – so you can ride with the chin bar open and round the back of the helmet legally in ECE countries.

And a drop down sun visor is always a great idea to stop you getting caught out and dazzled by the sun.

And while the Valiant is only made in two shell sizes (which isn’t the best for fitment or, arguably, for safety) it does use a multi-density polystyrene lining to offer more progressive shock absorption during an impact.

Finally on safety, the Valiant is fastened using a micrometric 2 chin strap – that’s a micrometric fastener with a metal ratchet instead of the old plastic version.

All in all, we’d expect the LS2 Valiant to give decent impact protection – though we can’t be 100% sure until it’s tested by SHARP.

For helmets that have proven they’ll give superior impact protection in the SHARP safety testing labs, you might want to check out our safest helmets pages.

Helmet Noise

From owner feedback, it seems like the LS2 Valiant is about average quietness for a modular helmet.

Dual homologated with a chin bar to rotates to the rear of the helmet

Modulars are generally noisier than the equivalent full face helmet – it seems mostly because the mechanism for that articulating chin bar either creates space for turbulence to get in and/or because it means there’s less room for noise-cancelling padding.

That’s what a couple of Valiant owners thought causes the noise in the Valiant too, though a couple also said that opening the vents lets noise in but closing them off makes the Valiant impressively quiet.

But as always, noise is a very subjective thing. But if you’re coming at it from a full face, expect it to be a bit noisier and wear ear plugs. Do that and we reckon that most riders will be fine with noise suppression in the Valiant (and most other modulars).

Ventilation

There’s a useful chin vent with a 2 way open/close slider covering it that gives venting to the back of the visor. There’s also a crown vent, again with a 2 way slider covering it, that’s designed take air through the helmet shell and push it into channels inside the helmet to cool the top of your head.

At the back, there’s four separate exhaust vents to help pull that warm, stale air out of the helmet, making room to let more fresh air in.

Front view showing wide visor and front vents

That’s all fine, but looking inside the helmet, there’s not a whole lot of chance for air in the air channels to make its way through the comfort lining and get air to your head. Where most makers put large cut-aways or mesh panels into the lining to allow air through, the Valiant’s liner is much more solid.

Owners of the Valiant reckon the chin vent works well but the head vent less well – with owners rating head ventilation around average. Which is not so much of a problem for those of us riding in Northern Europe, but might be a problem if you’re somewhere hotter.

Though of course, with the Valiant you’ve always got the option of having the chin bar up for a while to cool down!

Sun Visor

There’s a useful drop down sun visor in the Valiant, operated by a slider along the bottom left rim of the helmet – that’s a handy place to locate it and usually the best place to make it easy to find when riding.

Sometimes you find sun visors are a bit light and leave a stripe of bright light at the bottom which some folks find annoying, but the word on the sun visor on the Valiant is that it’s nice and dark and drops down low.

Chin Guard

Like other helmets where the chin guard rotates round to the back of the helmet, the movement of unlocking and pushing up the chin guard on the Valiant opens the visor and moves it out of the way of the guard.

The chin guard then rotates to the back of the helmet where it stays in place through gravity alone (i.e. it doesn’t lock in place). Owners say the unlocking and rotation of the chin guard is effortless and smooth.

With chin bar fully rotated, the Valiant works well as an open face helmet

It can be done easily with one hand, though it’s worth saying while it can be done without stopping, you’re always best waiting until you’re stopped to open the chin bar and not obscure your vision or take your eyes off the road. It only takes a slight bit of interference from an intercom mic or bit of grit in the mechanism and you could be toast.

The chin bar locking mechanism has metal clasps too which is usually a feature associated with more secure locking chin bars – so that’s good to see.

Looks & Graphics

We try and put as many graphic options as possible on these pages, but for the latest options and deals on LS2 Valiants, please check out the links to our recommended retailers below.

Best places to buy this LS2 helmet?

Please click below to visit the LS2 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

LS2 Valiant Video

Here’s a 5m30s video taking you around a plain matt black Valiant.

Other stuff – audio/bluetooth

The LS2 Valiant is designed to accommodate the Linkin Ride Pal III bluetooth communicator – that’s a bluetooth set designed by well-known intercom maker, Sena, for LS2 helmets. If you’re looking to use a different bluetooth, then be aware that the speaker pockets are pretty slim, so you’ll need to have slim fit speakers otherwise they might well be uncomfortable.

This one’s the Valiant Lumen in full face mode.

Overall/Summary

With the LS2 Valiant hitting the shelves, there’s now a further option if you’re looking for a modular helmet where the chin guard rotates right to the back of the helmet.

And the Valiant offers good value for money too. For a reasonable price, you get a full-featured helmet that should work well anywhere from a daily commuting helmet to a touring holiday helmet.

Cons? Well the top venting is a bit limited, the speaker pockets are shallow and, like most modular helmets, it’s not the quietest. But on the plus side, it’s good value, has that really practical chin guard that flips back out of the way, has a useful wide visor with Pinlock and drop down sun visor. And it’s rated as really comfortable by most owners.

We reckon it’ll probably score three stars for safety if SHARP gets round to testing it (though obviously that’s educated guesswork). But if you’re after a dual homologated – flip-right-over modular helmet, the LS2 Valiant’s well worth a try.

Good Alternatives to the LS2 Valiant?

If you’re after a great performing flip-front helmet, then here’s some beauties to check out.

We’ve gotta mention the two Sharks which are most similar to the LS2 Valiant.

There’s the Shark Evo One 2; that’s a flip-over modular that’s been safety rated by SHARP with an excellent four star rating. It comes with a Pinlock in the box and is a tad lighter than the LS2, though it’s a tad more expensive too.

Looking to buy this LS2 helmet?

Please click below to visit the LS2 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

REVIEW OVERVIEW

Safety

Comfort

Noise

Features

Value

SUMMARY

The LS2 Valiant is a thermoplastic flip-over modular helmet. It's got a great visor system including a drop down sun visor and class one optical visor. It's comfy too and that chin guard mechanism is super easy to use. It's a bit noisy, and the top vent's a bit rubbish according to owners. But other than that, it's a good value modular that should work for everyone from commuters to tourers (but probably not best for sportsbike riders).